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“All right, Evan. We’ll give it some more time, but I have a condition.”
“I’ll pay the apartment bills. I’ll get Loretta a fucking maid if she wants one.”
“It’s not the bills I’m worried about.” Alina takes a deep breath. “I told you I have other obligations as well.”
She said it isn’t about clients, and I try to figure out what she might be talking about. Suddenly, it hits me.
“You have a child.”
“Not exactly.” Alina laughs and shakes her head. “No, I don’t have a kid.”
“What, then?”
“I have a dog, Evan.” Alina sighs loudly and looks down at her lap. “I know some people don’t see it this way, but she means the world to me. I miss her, and Loretta hates taking care of her. She doesn’t even take her out for walks or to the dog park.”
“That’s it?”
“What do you mean?”
“A dog? That’s what’s bothering you? That’s what’s keeping you from staying?”
“Well, yes.”
All the times I unthinkingly looked for Odin in the apartment come back to me. I’d thought about getting another dog but couldn’t bring myself to actually look for a replacement. Freyja had been Odin’s puppy, and she was easy to love because I saw him in her.
“Bring her with you.”
“Does this place even allow pets?”
“I have no idea, and I don’t care. If that’s all you’re really concerned about, just bring her here. I don’t mind.”
“Really?”
“Not at all.” I imagine another dog like Odin running around and playing fetch with me through the living room.
“Are you just saying that to get me to stay?”
“Well, yeah, but it’s still all right.”
“I can bring her here?”
“Sure.”
“She could stay here in the apartment with us?”
“Of course.”
“Oh my God.” Alina cries out as she wraps her arms around me and hugs me. “Thank you, Evan! You have no idea how much that means to me. I hate being away from her.”
“Seriously?” I can’t help but laugh. “Was this really all you were worried about?”
“Not everything, but a lot of it, yes. I still think we need to figure out just how this is going to work. I can’t just be here as your personal whore.”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “It kinda has a nice ring to it.”
“No, it does not!” She slaps at my arm playfully.
I look at her closely, enjoying the return of her smile. Running my hand up her arm, I lean in to kiss her softly.
